JPH0746680A - Remote control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a remote control system which is capable of performing the setting of timer time on the side of a switch unit and displaying the remaining time of timer time on the side of a switch unit. CONSTITUTION:The signal generation circuit 11 of a switch unit 1B for cable fetches the operation signals and set data of an operation switch 3B, a timer time setting part 26, a timer mode setting part 27 and an address setting part 4B from an input port and performs timer operations based on these signals and data. An output port is connected with a timer remaining time display part 25. The signal generation circuit 11 subtracts and counts the setting timer time of the timer time setting part 26 in a timer operation and displays timer remaining time on the timer remaining time display part 25 based on the count value.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote control stem for transmitting a control signal from a plurality of switch units as a wired or wireless signal to cause a controller to perform a plurality of load controls.

[0002]

[Prior Art] Lighting installed in houses, shops, offices, etc.
Control loads on equipment and air conditioners for each floor and room
The remote control system shown in FIG.
There is a system. This recommon system is a wireless switch.
Switch unit 1A and wired wireless switch unit
The switch unit 1 is used in combination with
To send the signals from A and 1B to the controller 8.
Therefore, the output circuit 23₁~ 23 _FourControl the load through
It is like this.

A wireless switch unit 1A, which uses infrared rays as a signal medium and transmits a control signal by an infrared wireless signal, obtains power from a power supply circuit 2 composed of a battery, and generates signals by a microcomputer. The circuit 5 is provided. The signal generation circuit 5 fetches the operation data of the operation switch 3A connected to the input port and the setting data of the setting switch of the address setting unit 4A to make a determination, and based on the determination, operates the light emitting element drive circuit 7 from the output port. A PPM modulated signal is generated. A light emitting element 6 composed of an infrared light emitting diode is connected to the light emitting element drive circuit 7, and the light emitting element 6 is driven by the PPM modulation signal to generate a PPM.
It transmits a modulated infrared wireless signal. As the format of the signal transmitted here, the signal format based on the recommended method defined by the Association of Household Electrical Appliances shown in FIG. 9 is set. Here, the address is for selecting the output circuits 23 ₁ to 23 ₄ (load) to be controlled, and the operation code corresponds to the control data. Of course, a signal format unique to the system may be used.

On the other hand, the wired switch unit 1B takes in the DC voltage supplied from the controller 8 via the signal line 9 via the diode bridge DB ₁ and obtains power from the power supply circuit 10 consisting of a constant voltage circuit. A signal generation circuit 11 including a microcomputer is provided.
The signal generation circuit 11 fetches the operation data of the operation switch 3B connected to the input port and the setting data of the setting switch of the address setting unit 4B to make a determination, and based on the determination, a power source that constitutes a signal transmitting means from the output port. A PPM modulation signal for driving the superposition drive circuit 12 is generated. The power supply superimposing drive circuit 12 turns on / off between the output terminals of the diode bridge DB ₁ to short / open the signal line 9 through the resistor R ₁ to output a control signal composed of a baseband electric signal to the signal line 9 Superimpose and transmit. The format of the signal transmitted here is the same as the signal format used for the wireless signal.

A wireless signal receiver 13 for receiving a wireless signal from the wireless switch unit 1B is connected to the signal line 9, and the receiver 13 is connected through the diode bridge DB ₂ connected to the signal line 9. Constant voltage circuit 1 that takes in the voltage from the controller 8
4, the operating power source of the light receiving element 15 is obtained, and the light receiving element 15
The infrared wireless signal is converted into an electric signal without changing the signal format, the converted electric signal is amplified by the amplifier 16, and the power supply drive circuit 17 of the signal sending means is driven by this amplified signal. There is. The power supply superposition drive circuit 17 turns on / off the output terminal of the diode bridge DB ₂ to connect the signal line 9 to the resistor R ₂
A control signal made up of a baseband electric signal is superimposed and transmitted on the signal line 9 by short-circuiting / opening through.

A controller 8 connected to the receiver 13 and the wired switch unit 1B via a signal line 9.
Includes a power supply circuit 18 and a power supply circuit 19 for applying and supplying a DC voltage to the signal line 9, and receives and detects an electric signal superimposed on the signal line 9 and transmitted from the receiving unit 13 or the wired switch 1B. A signal detection circuit 20 for
A waveform shaping circuit 21 for shaping the waveform of the received and detected signal,
An address setting unit 22 for setting the address of the output circuit 23 ₁ to 23 ₄ of the controller 8 captures the signal from the waveform shaping circuit 21 to the input port, the setting address of the address and the address setting unit 22 in the signal matches It is composed of a signal discriminating circuit 24 which is a control means for discriminating the operation data and controlling the load of the lighting equipment or the like through the output circuit 23 ₁ .

Specifically, the power supply circuit 18 is composed of a rectifier circuit for full-wave rectifying an AC power supply, and the power supply circuit 19 has a constant voltage section for supplying a constant DC voltage to the signal line 9, and a signal discriminating circuit 24. The signal detection circuit 20 and the waveform shaping circuit 21 are composed of a constant voltage unit that supplies a constant DC voltage. Further, the signal discriminating circuit 24 is composed of a microcomputer, the input port is connected to the setting switch of the address setting section 22, and the output port is connected to the output circuit 23 ₁ ... Through the signal detecting circuit 20 and the waveform shaping circuit 21. When the address of the fetched signal coincides with the address of the address setting section 22, the control data is fetched, and the output circuits 23 ₁ ... Are turned on / off based on the control data to control the load. Further, the signal discriminating circuit 24 has a function of individually controlling the output circuits 23 ₁ ... With a built-in timer so that the loads connected to the output circuits 23 ₁ to 23 ₄ can be off-delay-controlled. Therefore, a changeover switch (not shown) for setting whether the timer function is operated or not is connected to the input port. Then, the signal discriminating circuit 24 operates the timer function so that the output circuits 23 ₁ to 23 ₄ are normally turned on / off or off-delayed according to the closing contact side of the changeover switch.

[0008]

In the remote control system configured as described above, the load connected to the controller 8 can be controlled by operating the wired switch unit 1B or the wireless switch unit 1A, and Since the signal formats are unified, it is possible to construct a system equipped with wired and wireless switch units without adding an extra device such as a complicated and expensive signal conversion adapter. The control function is based on both switch units. 1B can be supported, so that only one controller 8 is required, and the cost is low.

However, in the conventional remote control system, there is a problem that the remaining time of the timer time cannot be known on the switch unit side because the controller 8 side is provided with the timer setting time switching means for the timer operation. The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to set a timer time on the switch unit side and to set the remaining time of the timer time on the switch unit side. It is to provide a remote control system that can display.

It is an object of the invention of claim 2 that the type of timer operation can be selected from a delay operation for delaying the turning off of the load for a fixed time and a temporary operation for setting the load on period to a fixed time. In providing the system. In addition to the above object, an object of the invention of claim 3 is to provide a remote control system capable of notifying a user of the location of the switch unit.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 comprises a controller having a plurality of output circuits and a switch unit for transmitting a control signal to the controller. In a remote control system having a control means for discriminating a signal from a switch unit and controlling a load through the output circuit, a timer time setting means for causing the switch unit to operate a load by a timer, and a timer time setting during timer operation And a control means for counting the timer time set by the means, transmitting a control signal corresponding to the timer operation, and a remaining time display means for displaying the remaining time of the timer time counted by the control means. It is a thing.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a delay operation for delaying the turning off of the load by a predetermined time in the timer operation of the control means,
The switch unit is provided with means for selectively setting a temporary operation in which the load ON period is kept constant. According to the third aspect of the present invention, the switch unit is provided with a light emitting means which constantly lights up to display the position where the switch unit exists.

[0013]

According to the structure of the present invention, the timer time setting means for timer-operating the load, and the operation of counting the timer time set by the timer time setting means and showing the timer control at the start of the counting Since the control means for transmitting the data and the remaining time display means for displaying the remaining time of the timer time counted by the control means are provided, the timer time can be set on the switch unit side, and
Since the remaining time of the timer time can be displayed on the switch unit side, the user can be notified of the remaining time.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the switch unit is provided with means for selectively setting the timer operation of the control means between the temporary operation and the off-delay, it is suitable for the load to be controlled. The timer unit can be easily set on the switch unit side. According to the configuration of the invention of claim 3,
Since the wired switch unit is provided with a light emitting means for constantly illuminating and displaying the position of the switch unit, the user can know the location of the switch unit even in the dark, and therefore the operation in the dark is easy. .

[0015]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described below with reference to examples. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment circuit of a wired switch unit 1B used in the system of the present invention. In this embodiment circuit, a DC voltage supplied from a controller 8 via a signal line 9 is taken in via a diode bridge DB _1. Constant voltage circuit 1
The power supply circuit 10 composed of 0a supplies power to the signal generation circuit 11 composed of a CPU, the timer remaining time display section 25, and the position display light emitting diode LED ₀ for position display, respectively. , Signal generation circuit 11
Is adapted to take in the operation signals and setting data of the operation switch 3B, the timer time setting unit 26, the timer mode setting unit 27, and the address setting unit 4B from the input port, and perform the timer operation based on these signals. The output port has a light emitting diode LE of the remaining timer display 25.
The bases of the transistors Q ₁ that drive D ₁ ... Are connected and the bases of the transistors Q ₀ of the power supply superimposing drive circuit 12 are connected.

Reference numeral 28 is a power supply voltage monitoring circuit which releases the reset of the signal generating circuit 11 when the power supply voltage exceeds a certain level. Reference numeral 29 is a reference oscillation circuit for generating a reference clock for the signal generation circuit 11. Figure 2
Shows a perspective view of the wired switch unit 1B,
The operation portion of the operation switch 3B is provided in the center of the front surface of the unit main body 32, and the remaining timer display portion 25 is provided on one side of the front surface.
Light emitting diodes LED ₁ ~LED ₄ and position emitting diode LED ₀ for display are respectively Ro設, also the connecting portion 31 to the rear face consisting of quick connect terminals for connecting the signal line 9
And a timer time setting unit 26, a timer mode setting unit 27,
The operation unit of each DIP switch of the address setting unit 4B is exposed.

The address setting unit 4B is composed of a 2-bit DIP switch and can set which of the four output circuits 23 ₁ ... Is to be controlled. Further, the timer mode setting unit 27 is configured by a 1-bit DIP switch, turns on the load when the operation switch 3B is operated while the load connected to the output circuit 23 to be controlled is off, and again. When the operation switch 3B is operated, the OFF delay operation mode is automatically turned off after the timer time set by the timer time setting unit 26 elapses, and the output circuit 2 of the control object to be controlled when the operation switch 3B is operated.
3 _{1-23 4} attached load to the ON state, a temporary operation mode of turning off the load is adapted to be selected when then timer time setting unit elapses in the timer time set at 26 . The timer time setting unit 26 is 2
It consists of a bit DIP switch, and the timer time can be set in four steps. In the embodiment, for example, 1
Minutes, 3 minutes, 5 minutes, and 120 minutes can be selected and set.

In the case of the wireless switch unit 1A, the position is not displayed because it is a battery power source. However, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, like the wired switch unit 1B, the operation switch 3A and the timer time setting section 26 are used. , A timer mode setting unit 27, an address setting unit 4A, and a timer remaining time display unit 25 '.
The timer time setting unit 2 is provided on the concave plane 33a at the center of the front surface of the timer 3.
6, a timer mode setting unit 27, an address setting unit 4B and an operation unit of the operation switch 3A, and a timer remaining time display unit 25 'composed of a liquid crystal display for reducing battery consumption.
And the display surface of are exposed. A panel cover 34 is detachably fitted into the concave flat surface 33a so that the display surface of the timer remaining time display portion 25 'and the operation portion of the operation switch 3A are exposed through the window holes 35a and 35b. ing. Reference numeral 36 is a name card, and 37 is a light emitting window for transmitting a wireless signal.

The operation of the switch unit 1B of this embodiment will be described with reference to the system diagram of FIG. 8, the flowchart of FIG. 5 and the time charts of FIGS. That is, when the operation switch 3B is operated in the standby state as shown in (a) of FIG. 6A, the signal generating circuit 11 corresponds to the load-on data and the output circuit 23 ₁ ... The address data and the electric signal of the above-mentioned signal format are transmitted to the controller 8 as shown in FIG. 6B through the power superimposition drive circuit 12, the diode bridge DB ₁ and the signal line 9.

Based on this electric signal, the controller 8 turns on the output circuits 23 ₁ ... Which are to be controlled to turn on the load. The switch unit 1B next determines whether it is an OFF delay operation or a position operation based on the setting of the timer mode setting unit 27. In the temporary operation mode, the signal generation circuit 1
1 reads the set time of the timer time setting unit 26 and sets the value of the timer time T in the built-in counter. If the operation switch 3B is not operated before the timer time T ends, the timer time T is subtracted and counted. And the timer remaining time display section 2
In 5, the ratio of the remaining time is displayed by the number of light emitting diodes. When the remaining time becomes zero, the load-off data and the data of the address corresponding to the output circuit 23 ₁ ... It is transmitted to the controller 8 through DB ₁ and the signal line 9 as shown in FIG.

Based on this electric signal, the controller 8 turns off the output circuits 23 ₁ ... Which are to be controlled to turn off the load, and returns to the standby state. If the timer remaining time does not become zero after the first operation of the operation switch 3B shown in (a ') of FIG. 6 (a), the operation switch 3B is changed as shown in (b).
When the re-operation is performed, the count contents of the built-in timer are cleared and the data of the load off and the data of the address corresponding to the output circuit 23 ₁ ... The signal is transmitted to the controller 8 through the circuit 12, the diode bridge DB ₁ , and the signal line 9 as shown in FIG. 6B, and the load is immediately turned off.

In the case of the delay operation mode, if there is an operation (b) of the next operation switch 3B after the operation (a) of the first operation switch 3B in which the load is turned on as shown in FIG. At this time, the signal generation circuit 11 has the timer time setting unit 2
The set time of 6 is read and the timer time value is set in the built-in counter, and thereafter, the same operation as in the case of the temporary operation mode is performed. That is, in the case of this delay operation mode, the signal generating circuit 11 is started from the time of re-operation of the operation switch 3B.
The subtraction count of the timer time in the built-in timer is started, and when the count value of the timer time becomes zero, an electric signal for turning off the load is transmitted as shown in FIG. 7 (b).

The operation of the wireless switch unit 1A is similar to that of the wired switch unit 1B.
However, the remaining time is displayed by the wired switch unit 1B in proportion to the number of light emitting diodes displayed, whereas in the wireless switch unit 1A, the remaining time is displayed by a digital time display by a liquid crystal display.

[0024]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the timer time setting means for operating the load by the timer, and the operation data indicating the timer control at the start of counting the timer time set by the timer time setting means. Since the control unit for transmitting and the remaining time display unit for displaying the remaining time of the timer time counted by the control unit are provided, the timer time can be set on the switch unit side and the remaining time of the timer time is switched. Since it can be displayed on the unit side,
This has the effect of letting the user know the remaining time.

According to the second aspect of the invention, since the switch unit is provided with means for selectively setting the timer operation of the control means between the temporary operation and the off delay, the timer corresponding to the load to be controlled. There is an effect that operation settings can be easily performed on the switch unit side. According to the configuration of the third aspect of the invention, the wired switch unit is provided with the light emitting means for constantly illuminating and displaying the position where the switch unit exists. Therefore, even in the dark, the user can see the location of the switch unit. Since it is clear, there is an effect that the operation can be easily performed in the dark.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a wired switch unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the wired switch unit as seen from the front. FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the wired switch unit as seen from the rear side.

FIG. 3A is a front view of the above wireless switch unit. (B) is a side view of the above wireless switch unit.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the above wireless switch unit.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the wired switch unit of the above.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the wired switch unit of the above.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the wired switch unit of the above.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a remote control system.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a format of an electric signal used in the remote control system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1B Wired switch unit 3B Operation switch 4B Address setting part 9 Signal line 10 Power supply circuit 11 Signal generation circuit 25 Timer remaining time display part 26 Timer time setting part 27 Timer mode setting part LED ₀ Light emitting diode

Front page continued (72) Inventor Taiji Urakawa 1048 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A controller having a plurality of output circuits,
In a remote control system comprising a switch unit for transmitting a control signal to a controller, the controller having a control means for discriminating a signal from the switch unit and controlling the load through the output circuit, a load unit is provided with a timer. The timer time setting means for operating, the timer time set by the timer time setting means during the timer operation, and the control means for transmitting a control signal corresponding to the timer operation, and the control means counting And a remaining time display means for displaying the remaining time of the timer time. 2. The switch unit is provided with means for selectively setting the timer operation of the control means to a delay operation for delaying the turning off of the load for a certain time and a temporary operation for keeping the on time of the load for a certain time. The remote control system according to claim 1, which is characterized in that. 3. A remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the switch unit is provided with a light emitting means for constantly illuminating the switch unit to display the position of the switch unit.